The Utah State Men’s Basketball team ran through a tune-up Wednesday night, as fans were able to get a preview for the upcoming season at the annual Blue and White Scrimmage. With the help of his assistants, coach Stew Morrill directed both teams through two 10-minute halves. All 14 of the healthy players were able to participate, with some getting playing time on both sides.”It’s always difficult when you play yourself,” Morrill said. “You’re either playing good offense or you’re playing bad defense.”Such was the case Wednesday night, as both teams were able to score easily, amassing points both from inside the paint and behind the three point arc. The two squads shot a total of 58% from the field, with Brady Jardine and Brian Green notching 12 points apiece.All of Green’s points came from behind the line, as the 5’10” guard from Kaysville shot a perfect four for four from the field. The newcomer started off the second half by draining back-to-back-to-back threes.”I was kind of nervous at the beginning, but they played zone in the second half, and that helped my shot out,” said Green. “It just felt good.”Coach Morrill is expecting good things out of Green this year, and he was pleased by what he saw. “I expect him to do what he does. He’s a knockdown shooter, as you saw, and when he gets on a roll he can really shoot,” Morrill said.The basketball team was not the only ones using the scrimmage to get into regular season shape. The student section prepared by practicing their chants, as they even resorted to taunting Tai Wesley with a “You will miss it!” jeer as he attempted a free throw.”It was funny. I was trying not to laugh,” said Wesley.Coach Morrill also paid tribute to the fans in his pre-game adress to the crowd. “I want to thank you for being the best basketball fans in the state of Utah,” Morrill said.The Aggies will have one day of practice left on Thursday before facing off against Northwestern Nazarene on Friday night at seven in the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum.”They return three starters, and they’re a good team,” Morrill said. “It will be good for us to bang someone else besides each other. It will be good, and our guys are looking forward to it.”
Scrimmage signals start of season
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